Using football to help refugees

The workshop event will take place at the Amex Stadium, the home of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, on 25 November and is being supported by the British Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

This is the second part of a programme entitled ‘Refugees Welcome: Football fans and community in Europe’. The first took place in Paris in June in collaboration with Football Supporters Europe, and focused on what fans and grassroots groups are doing with refugees, including setting up teams, working in camps and raising awareness. The University of Brighton is collating the findings to provide policy briefings.

Dr Mark Doidge, Senior Research Fellow from the University of Brighton’s College of Social Sciences, said: “The main goal of this workshop is to place football centrally in the minds of policy makers who are addressing the needs of refugees globally.

Dr Mark Doidge

“Often, governments focus on the immediate welfare needs of refugees and asylum seekers and overlook the important role of sport, and football in particular, in supporting the physical, mental, emotional and social welfare of individuals.

“Following the workshops we will collate policy briefings for national governments, sport governing bodies, football clubs and international NGOs. It is also intended to start a dialogue to further research and support in this area, particularly practical outcomes for grassroots organisations and governing bodies, and sharing best practice globally.”

Lord Bassam of Brighton will present the keynote speech and there will be panels on federations and clubs with speakers including Patrick Gasser from UEFA, Kevin Coleman from the FA, and John Dorber from the UN High Commission for Refugees. Also taking part will be representatives from Liberi Nantis, the first football team in Italy entirely composed by refugees and asylum seekers; Amnesty International; Terre des Hommes, the international organisation that develops and implements projects designed to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged children; and the European Football for Development Network.

The event runs from 9.30am to 5pm and interested groups and individuals are invited to attend.

For more details contact M.Doidge@brighton.ac.uk or follow @markdoidge on Twitter.